TIRANA, Aug 31 /ATA/ – Albania will sign a food security agreement with other Open Balkan states during a summit in Belgrade on Thursday, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Frida Krifca said on Wednesday.
Under the deal, the countries in the Open Balkan initiative will have guaranteed priority in mutual exchange of staple foods to ensure sufficient food quantities in crisis situations, and introduce mechanisms for preventing food from being re-exported to other markets.
In a press statement following a regular cabinet meeting earlier today, Agriculture Minister said that the agreement will further strengthen cooperation among the three countries that have joined the Open Balkan initiative.
“The Council of Minister today approved an agreement, which is set to be signed tomorrow in Belgrade, and it is an accord among the Open Balkan states on setting up a mechanism on guaranteeing food supplies and keeping markets open without determining a ceiling or a quota as it has been the case in the previous months. In other words it is a free trade agreement unaffected by the Ukraine war effects that have cut the food supply chain in all countries in Europe and throughout the world,” Krifca explained.
A trade fair will also take place under the Open Balkan initiative, with 26 Albanian companies expected to showcase their products in Belgrade.
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